FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MORE THAN 7,000 RUNNERS COMPETE IN 28TH RITE AID
CLEVELAND MARATHON AND 10K
Female 10K winner breaks course record, local runner wins marathon
CLEVELAND, (May 22, 2005) – The 28th Annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon
and 10K has a new course record in the women’s 10k with a 31:10, set by
Asmae Leghzaoui from Moroco. The previous record was 31:43. She was
followed by Masako Chibo, 32:27, from Japan, and Albina Ivanova, 32:32
from Russia.
Cleveland runner Fred Kieser was the first marathon finisher and the first
Ohioan with a time of 2:22:00. He was followed by 2004 winner Alexander
Belavin from Russia with a time of 2:23:18. Kam Lee from Middlebrug
Heights took third with a time of 2:31:56.
"I thought it would be cool for someone from Cleveland to win Cleveland,"
said Kieser, a veteran marathoner. "It is very special to win at home."
The women's marathon was won by Donna Palisca from Killeen, Texas with a
time of 2:54:53. She was followed by Laura Fuduric from Strongsville with
a time of 2:59:43, and Judy Arlington from Lockport, NY with a time
3:03:54.
Kenyan's dominated the male 10K with Julius Kibet leading the field of
elite runners to win with a time of 28:44, Reuben Chebii with 28:58 and
Isaac Arusei with 29:30.
For the first time in its 28 year history, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon
& 10K hosted a half-marathon. The men’s winner was Rich Wisneski of Stow
with a time of 1:17:03. Saulius Leonavicius from Germantown, MD placed
second with a time of 1:17:23 and Dale Walsh from Fort Bragg, NC finished
third with a time of 1:18:26.
Ohioan's led the women’s half-marathon. Hannah Purdy won with a time of
1:21:18. Jill Aaron from Westlake took second with a time of 1:27:17 and
Julia Hanna from New Albany took third with a time of 1:30:37. Since this
was the inaugural running of the half-marathon, the men’s and women’s
winning times become course records.
Ideal weather conditions led to a surge in last minute registrations for
the 28th Annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K. With temperatures in
the 50’s, more than 7,000 runners showed up at the starting line for the
marathon, the 10K and the inaugural half-marathon. This is the most
registered runners the race has seen since the mid 90s and represents
nearly a 50 percent increase over 2004.
For more results, visit: www.ClevelandMarathon.com
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